Improvement in gates for railroads



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H. A. STEARNS. GATE FOR RAILROADS.

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HQAUSTEKRNS. 'GA'IIE FOR RAILROADS Patented July 10, 1877 INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT FERRY STEARNS, 0 PAWTUOKET, RHODE NDL IMPROVEMENTIN GATES FOR ERAILROADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 192,882, dated July10, 1877 application filed February 17, 1876.

all when; it may co wem:

Be it known tha HENRY A- SIB B S. of Pawtucket, in: the county ofProvidence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Railroad- Gates; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved railroad-gate, showing itsapplication to a road-crossing of a railroad. The gate is shown openforgeneral traffic to cross the railroad, whereas the approach to therailroadtrack is shown closed, all being indicated in solid lines. Theposition of the gate-bars,

when the railroad is clear and the approach by the road-crossing thesame is closed, is shown in broken lines. Fig. 2 is a ground or planview, showing the manner in which the four gate-spindles are connectedby chains,

wire-ropes, or partially flexiblerods, so as to turn simultaneously.Fig. 3 is a vertical section, showing the gate-spindles, the steps, thedrums, and gearings for operating the gate.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. i

This invention has reference to that kind of gate in which two gates areplaced, one on each side of the railroad-track, and operated so as toopen and close both gates simultaneously, and consists in the peculiarand novel arrangement of horizontally-swinging gate bars connected so asto swing together and open and close the gate on both sides of therailroad simultaneously; and further consists in the novel arrangementof so connecting the bars that the same may be turned over or raised, aswill be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, a a a a. are the standards placed in the angles formedby the railroad, and a road or street crossing the same. b b b b are thegate-bars proper. c 0 0 c are brackets screwed to the shafts turning inthe standards, and to these brackets the gate-bars are secured. d d d dare gate-bars, by which, when the gate is closed, the sidewalk isprotectcd. d are strong hinges, by which the gate-bars b and d areconnected.

The gate-bars b b may be made in one piece and the shorter end weighted,so as to bal ance the longer end, and thus insure'a free turning of thegates on the spindles.

In most instances it becomes necessary to leave both the railroad and'road open at night. To do this I arrange the gate-bars so that the samemay eitherhe doubled, as is shown in broken lines in Fig. l,'or raisedperpendicularly, as is also shown in Fig. 1.

The bolsters or brackets 0 c are secured to vertical spindles e eresting in stops f f. To

the lower part of said spindles the pulleys g.

g are secured, and these pulleys are connected .by chains, wire ropes,or rods, that portion which surrounds part of the pulley being flexible.The part below the ground and extending from standard to standard ismade perfectly water-tight, so that no water can enter the same, audthusthe whole spindles, pulleys, and connections are protected.

To insure free and easy working, the part inclosing the steps, pulleys,and connections may be filled with cheap lubricating-oils, and thus allparts beprotected against rust and dampness, while all parts beingthoroughly lubricated will thus move with little power.

The gate may be operated by any one of the gate-bars, or a bevel-gearmay be secured to one of the spindles or to one spindle on each side ofthe railroad, and a beveled pinion worked by the crank h.

A locking device may also be arranged at any part of the gate, and thusall the gatebars may be readily locked.

Instead of making the pulleys a complete circle they may be made so asto form only such a section of a circle as will be necessary to bringthe gate through the portion of the circle required.

When gate-bars of one piece are used, and it is required to leave bothroad and railroad open at night or at any other time, the gate must bemade to swing through half a circle, so that when both are open thegate-bars will extend along the road and away from the railroad.

This railroad-gate is very simple in construction. It can be opened andclosed with little exertion, as the same, when balanced, rests only onthe spindle-step.

Neither dirt, snow, nor ice can interfere with the free working of thisgate, and there is no danger of the gate coming down on passingvehicles, as is the case with the verticallyswinging gate-bars. When thegate is being closed the motion of the bars, being from the railroad,will push back any team driving across in spite of the warning of thegatekeeper, and thus serious aceidents'are frequently prevented.

When the distance across the railroad is more or less than the distanceacross the other road the gate-bars may be arranged to pass one another,or one set of posts or standards may be lower than the other, and thegatearmsof one set pass under the arms of the other.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the horizontallyswinginggate-bars, of the standards a, spinpulleys to their lower ends, whichoperate in connection with chains to impart simultaneous movement to thegate-bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with standards a and spindles e, of the bolsters 0and hinged gatebars secured to said bolsters, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the horizontallyswinging gate-bars, of thestandards a and spindles e, the latter extending below the standardthrough the foundation of the crossing, and stepped in water-tightcasings i 13, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the horizontallyswinging gate-bars, of thestandard a, spindle e, the latter having bevel-gearing combinedtherewith, whereby the bars may be actuated by a crank, h, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

HENRY A. STEARNS.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. MILLER, D. B. POTTER.

